Category: Flowers Portfolio

Core Value 1: My work demonstrates that I used a variety of social and interactive practices that involve recursive stages of exploration, discovery, conceptualization, and development.

For this course, I took advantage of the feedback please and sent some of my work in there for extra help. One piece of work that specifically sticks out is my hypothesis. Although I changed my topic and it no longer applies the professors help got me on the right track for my original topic. At first, I was not sure if I was on the right track with the layout and detail of the hypothesis. Once I sent the assignment into feedback please the professor cleared up any confusion I had. He also explained that I had to be more detailed and concrete. The one on one meeting also gave me extra clarity on my topic and the direction I was originally going in. After the feedback, I was able to better my work.

Core Value 2: My work demonstrates that I read critically, and that I placed texts into conversation with one another to create meaning by synthesizing ideas from various discourse communities. An assignment that demonstrates this core value is the Stone Money assignment. For this assignment, we had to listen to an NPR broadcast, read an article by Milton Friedman, and find our own source. The broadcast was about currency in Brazil. The article discussed a currency of money that was made of stone and sat at the bottom of the ocean but still had value for the owner. My source discussed the economy and how our economy makes our money. For the paper, I was also able to connect the ideas of the two sources and my source with each other for a better understanding of the concept of money. After the assignment, I had a better understanding that money is not real and as long as people believe it has value then it will continue to exist. Core Value 3: My work demonstrates that I rhetorically analyzed the purpose, audience, and contexts of my own writing and other texts and visual arguments.The work that allowed me to rhetorically analyze was the visual rewrite. The assignment consisted of watching a 30-second advertisement with no sound. While watching the advertisement we had to analyze what was happening second by second and provide details from the video to support our reasoning. Watching the video with no sound allowed me to come up with my own interpretations and ideas of what was happening and why. It also abled me to raise questions for why the director made the scenes the way he did. Each second of the video acted as the context that was support for my own thinking. For my advertisement, the audience was directed towards family and my rhetoric provides details to support the point of view. This assignment made me realize that every single detail in a video is in there for a reason. Core Value 4: My work demonstrates that I have met the expectations of academic writing by locating, evaluating, and incorporating illustrations and evidence to support my own ideas and interpretations.

This core value is demonstrated in my rebuttal assignment. For this assignment, we had to focus on a specific audience and in this case, the audience was readers who did not support your point of view. The audience for my paper was readers who claimed weed addiction and dependency was not possible. Throughout the paper, I explained that it was possible to become addicted to the drug, start a dependency, and possibly abuse it. I also provided the negative effects that came along with addiction, dependency, and abuse. The sources helped me to provide evidence of support for my ideas and interpretations. Some sources provided statistics and personal stories that allowed me to explain my point of view in the most accurate and truthful way.

Core Value 5: My work demonstrates that I respect my ethical responsibility to represent complex ideas fairly and to the sources of my information with appropriate citation. One of my works that demonstrates that I responsibly represented ideas and sources fairly is my annotated bibliography. The bibliography consisted of sources used in the research paper. If some sources were not in the paper they could be in the bibliography as well. This assignment allowed me to fairly explain what each article was about in its entirety. I also explained how and why I used the sources in my paper. Explaining how I used the source helped to support that I was representing ideas fairly. The bibliography allowed for proper citation format that shows throughout all of my work. The appropriate citation made sure that the author was getting credit for their work when it was used in my paper.

Marijuana and Addiction

The claim advocates for weed make is that it is not possible to abuse, become addicted, or dependent on the drug, yet that is not true. Since advocates believe in their claim they tend to lean towards smoking weed to help with anxiety over pharmaceuticals. Marijuana users can experience dependency, abuse, and addiction.

Marijuana consist of over 400 chemicals and all these chemicals enter the body when the smoke is inhaled. One of the main chemicals is THC. When THC enters the body it travels to the brain and its effects begin almost immediately. The body becomes very relaxed and a sense of happiness washes over. That might sound appealing but weed can start to hinder brain functions. In an article published by “National Institute on Drug Abuse,” the institute states, “but when THC activates the receptors, itinterferes with the normal functioning of these areas of the brain.” Interference with brain functions can cause more issues. A person can be a chronic smoker or an occasional one but both can still experience the same effects of weed once it enters the body. Even though the feelings marijuana leaves can sound appealing they are causing more harm and are not worth the couple hours of relaxation and ease.

Contrary to popular belief marijuana users can become dependent on the drug. This drug is easily abused because most users do not think it is causing any harm to them physically or mentally so they continue to smoke it regularly. Constantly smoking it can lead to a mental dependency. The user begins to love how they feel when the drug is in their system and they want to always feel that way. Also, they begin to not feel “normal” when weed is not in their system. Users are beginning to have a dependency on the drug more often. In the article, “Marijuana Addiction and Abuse,” the author informs, “More than 4 million Americans are reported to have a dependence on marijuana.” The above statistic is already extremely high and can keep on increasing if people keep ignoring the fact that dependency on weed is possible.

Abusing the drug can happen as well. Most of the time the user does not realize they are abusing the drug. It is easy for abuse to happen because once the user has found easy access to the drug they can get it whenever they want. Most marijuana users start out at a young age and the abuse is already starting to begin. Starting out at a young age can harm the teen’s brain development. In the newsletter “Marijuana Abuse and Addiction,” the author MaryAnn DePietro exclaims, “chronic marijuana use during these early years of critical brain development can lead to long-term or permanent loss of mental abilities.” Abusing the drug at a young age can leave behind permanent damage. There are many negative health effects that can occur when someone starts to abuse the drug. Some of those effects include mood changes, memory issues, coordination loss, anxiety, lung damage, and paranoia. All of the above symptoms can start to cause hardship on the user and their family. Abuse eventually leads to an addiction.

Addiction involves using the substance to the extreme. Those with an addiction do not lose focus on the substance they are craving. As they continue to use the substance they build up a tolerance and begin to need bigger dosages of the drug. Addiction causes changes in brain functionality. In an article called “What is Addiction” published by “American Psychiatric Association,” it explains the changes in the brain, “areas of the brain that relate to judgment, decision making, learning, memory and behavior control.” All of the areas in the brain that change, when a substance is being addicted, are crucial. These same areas change when weed is smoked and THC is released into the brain. Addiction to weed is possible and should not be ignored.

A number of people argue that it is completely impossible to get addicted to weed but they are wrong. Marijuana abuse is more about consumption and addiction focuses on how hard it is for the user to stop smoking it all together or for a period of time. When the user becomes addicted they either constantly crave the drug itself or crave the drug’s effects. It is possible for to crave both. If the user tries to stop using the drug but they are experiencing withdrawal then they are addicted. Marijuana addiction is more common than originally believed. In the newsletter “Marijuana Abuse and Addiction” by DePietro provides proof of addiction, “according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, about one in every 11 marijuana users will become addicted.” In a group of users, there will be at least one who is addicted to the drug. Just like abuse, addiction can cause mental illnesses like anxiety and depression to be present. Some users wind up in rehab for their addiction. In an article called “Marijuana Addiction is Real but Many Users Don’t Realize That” by Christine Vestal, the author interviewed a marijuana user who became addicted, “took him to Muir Wood… six weeks there, Pohl took intensive classes with about 10 other boys and talked to his therapist frequently.” The marijuana user Quintin Pohl became addicted to weed and had to go to a rehab center where he talked with a therapist about his addiction and what he was going through. Lastly, addiction to this drug can sometimes wind up in the emergency room. The article, “Marijuana History and Statistics” by Lauren Brande provides a shocking statistic, “in 2010, it was involved in 461,028 emergency department visits, up 64% since 2004.” Marijuana emergency visits have risen a huge amount since 2004 and have the potential to keep rising if users keep ignoring the fact that addiction can happen. It is important for those who smoke marijuana to realize that it does come with consequences of dependency, abuse, and addiction along with other health issues.

Background- The article discussed what marijuana is and how it affects the body and brain once the smoke is inhaled. It also explained how someone can abuse the drug and become addicted to it. The article also explained how to treat a marijuana addiction.

How I Used It- I used this article for my rebuttal part. It allowed me to explain how someone can abuse the drug. I was able to use a statistic to show the number of Americans that abuse weed.

Background- The website provided mini-articles on the topic of anxiety. One article discussed what exactly is anxiety and all the different types a person could have. Another article explained the signs and symptoms that come along with the mental health disorder. Lastly, it discussed what can potentially cause anxiety.

How I Used It- The article helped me get a better understanding of what anxiety is and allowed me to explain it in detail for readers. I was able to provide the signs and symptoms for my paper. 3- Author, G. (2018, May 21). What You Need to Know About Anxiety Medication: Pros and Cons. Retrieved from https://www.rtor.org/2018/05/22/anxiety-medication-pros-and-cons/

Background- This article discusses the pharmaceutical medications used to treat anxiety. It also goes into detail about the pros and cons of using each type of anxiety medication. How I Used It- This article helped me to explain to readers the positives for taking anti-anxiety medicine. It also allowed me to give more information on the medications, how they work, and all the varieties available.

Background- This article discussed one of the many anti-anxiety medications. The medication that I focused on was Benzodiazepines. It explains the benefits and side effects of the medication. The author also talks about the advantageous and disadvantageous.

How I Used It- For my paper, I used the section that talked about Benzodiazepines. I was discussing why medications are the best way to help with anxiety. The article allowed me to show the percentage of people the medicine has helped. Having a statistic to show allowed for extra support for my point of view.

Background- The article explains what weed is and how it interacts with the body and brain. It then goes on to explain what anxiety is and the different types. Finally, it explains the link between weed and anxiety. The article gives some effects of using weed for anxiety.

How I Used It- I used this article to further explain why not to use weed for helping with anxiety. The article allowed me to have a better understanding of why weed is bad for relieving anxiety. I was able to provide an example from the article(which was weed heightens anxiety) to help support my reasoning.

Background- This article provided the history on marijuana and how it began. The author gave statistics that on topics like who are abusing marijuana, countries using the most, youth and marijuana use, and explaining how dangerous it is.

How I Used It- This article was important to help get my point across that weed can be addictive. It provided me with many informative statistics that supported my point of view. I was able to use a statistic that explained how emergency room visits because of weed went up since 2004.

Background- The journal entry discussed how exercising could help those cope with anxiety. It also explains an experiment they put together to prove that exercising does help. The results showed that the group of students who had anxiety saw a decrease after weeks of doing relaxing exercises.

How I Used it– I used the article to help better prove that exercising does help cope with anxiety. It also allowed me to better understand the effects exercising has on anxiety. It provided me with an example that helped me better explain to the readers why it is good to exercise when you have anxiety. 8- DePietro, M. (n.d.). Marijuana Abuse and Addiction. Retrieved December 4, 2018, from https://www.healthline.com/health/marijuana-abuse-and-addiction

Background- The article discusses marijuana abuse and addiction. It provides a list of short-term and long-term symptoms that appear when the drug is being abused or someone is addicted. The author also explains what happens when teenagers start to abuse the drug. The article also gives ways on how to treat the abuse or addiction.

How I Used It- I used this article to further explain that marijuana abuse and addiction are possible. For one part of my paper, I was able to support how using the drug at a young can harm brain function. In another part of my paper, I provided a statistic from this article to show how many people get addicted to marijuana.

Background- The article from Harvard Health explains the evolution of anti-anxiety medicine. It also explains how Benzodiazepines react with the brain and begin to calm the user. They talk about the pills absorption and its effects. The article goes into alternative treatments as well.

How I Used It- The article helped me to get a better understanding of how the medication works and reacts with the body and brain. I was able to use this article to help further explain how medications bring relief to people who have anxiety. The support helped to show that medications are fast acting and can help control anxiety compared to weed.

Background- This article discussed six ways to help with anxiety. The six ways were how to better cope with anxiety. Some of the ways are to come to terms with the disorder, having a mantra, and creating a support group. The article centered around self-helping ways and not medications.

How I Used It- I used this article to show the ways someone with anxiety can cope with their disorder. The six ways helped to further explain that coping with anxiety is possible and that medication is not always needed.

Background- This article was more for a teacher to use with her students. It is composed of mini article and activities about the brain and substances. I focused on the article about weed. The article on weed explained what happens in each part of the brain when the drug is in your system. It also discussed neurotransmitter and the relationship between them and weed. The article went into detail about the effect of marijuana and withdrawal.

How I Used It- I used this article to further explain what happens to the brain and body functions when weed enters the body. It also allowed me to explain the rule THC plays in brain functionality.

Background- The focus of this article is explaining why not to use weed to help with anxiety. It gives five examples of why using weed is a bad idea. The examples are it can lead to a dependency, not able to measure how much needs to be taken, a possibility of making the disorder worse, lead to bigger issues and can cause a different reaction for everyone.

How I Used It- The article helped me to prove once again that medication is better than weed. It helped me to get a better understanding of why weed is not the best option which allowed me to better explain it to the readers. I used the examples in the article to help prove my point. I specifically referenced that weed heightens anxiety and can bring about panic attacks.

Background- The article discusses the connection between anxiety and weed. It also explains the benefit of using weed to help relieve anxiety. Part of the article goes into detail about the endocannabinoid system and what happens when someone has anxiety and when someone smokes weed. The other parts of the article discuss the data that what recorded on using weed as a treatment option.

How I Used It- I was not able to use the source in my research paper. After reading the article it informed me more on marijuana and what happens when it is smoked. It also helped me to better understand the relationship between weed and anxiety. I wasn’t able to use it because it did not support my argument.

Background- This article discussed marijuana addiction specifically in California. It also explains how the potency of weed has increased over the years. The author talks about how the National Institute on Drug Abuse is having a hard time convincing people weed is addictive. The article provides an interview from a California native who got addicted to weed and had to go to a rehab center.

How I Used It- I used this article in the part of my paper that discussed addiction. I specifically used the part of the interviewed kid. His experience allowed me to give a real-life example to my readers. The kid’s story also helped to further support my position on weed its ability to become addictive.

Background- The article explains what addiction is and what happens when someone becomes addicted to a substance. It lists some effects that appear when substance abuse is happening. The author provided four categories of symptoms that follow a substance abuse. The article also goes into detail on how to treat an addiction and how to prevent one.

How I Used It- I used this article to help explain what an addiction is. The article allowed me to provide what regions of brain functionality become affected by substance addiction. This allowed me to connect it with weed and the parts of the brain that become affected when someone is addicted to the drug.

Anxiety and Relief

It is hard to believe that mental health disorders exist in a world where everyone is happy. One disorder that is common is anxiety. Anxiety can bring about a feeling intense worrying, fear, and constant worry that something bad is going to happen. Those who have anxiety have trouble doing day to day activities like work and school. There is no cure for anxiety, however, there are ways to relieve or cope with the suffering and pain it causes. Relief and coping can start to sound the same but the words have different meanings especially when dealing with anxiety. There are many ways to treat anxiety and two of those ways are pharmaceuticals and weed to an extent. Those who suffer from anxiety could better benefit from taking pharmaceuticals over smoking weed that provides the high.

Relief helps to ease the pain of illnesses or wounds for an extended period of time. In this case, pharmaceuticals and weed can both give relief to those with anxiety. The relief doesn’t last for continuous days but it is enough to make it through a day and allow for daily activities to be done. Pharmaceuticals provide a longer lasting relief compared to weed. In order, for weed to provide relief it would have to be smoked at a high dosage but it would eventually wear off and need to be smoked more throughout the day. It would also take some time to set in and begin its full effect. Pharmaceuticals typically need to be taken once daily every day and bring relief almost immediately, unlike weed. According to Harvard Health, “They are uniquely effective when taken by mouth or intravenously for the rapid relief of acute anxiety… and control of anxiety.” Pharmaceuticals are the better option for anxiety relief because of their quickness and ability to help control it. The methods used for relief can also be forms of treatment for it.

Coping is different from relief. In order to have relief from anxiety, there are medications that need to be taken. However, coping involves finding ways to deal with illnesses without medications or even the use of weed. Finding those coping methods can also allow the person to change their mood in a positive way. There are many helpful ways to cope with anxiety. In an article at the Healthline website called “6 Daily Hacks That Help Manage High-Functioning Anxiety,” the author provides ways to cope with anxiety and those ways include “recognizing your symptoms, make friends with your fear, reconnect with your body, have a mantra, intervene with yourself, and have a support group.” Although not discussed in the article, physical activity is another coping method. In a journal entry written by Sean Cai, he discusses “relaxation exercises” as a way to “balance the physical as well as mental benefits.” Exercising allows the person with anxiety to feel at ease and improve their mood. All of the previously listed ways can allow someone with anxiety to cope with it in a proper and healthy way. Coping may not be as helpful with anxiety but it is another option if the person with the illness doesn’t want to take medicine.

Over the years, pharmaceuticals have become held at a high standard for effectiveness when relieving anxiety and they continue to prove their effectiveness. Pharmaceuticals and weed meet the same criteria in certain aspects, however, one is more reliable and credible over the other. The medications are more guaranteed to relieve anxiety compared to weed because the pills react with chemicals in the brain that have an effect on mood. Smoking weed for anxiety relief can cause more problems. According to the article “5 Reasons Not to Treat Depression with Weed,” it says, “Many people report feeling more anxious and paranoid immediately after using weed, and some even experience panic attacks.” The report above clarifies that weed has a negative reaction for most users with anxiety. Seeking weed as a treatment can lead to a dependency as well. It is also not known how much needs to be smoked for its effects to kick in. Pharmaceuticals are more easily accessible compared to weed. Weed is not yet legalized and in order to obtain it, it needs to be bought from someone. Some states do allow it to be used for medical reason but there are qualifications that need to be meant. Marijuana also has a tendency to be more expensive than pharmaceuticals. It is best to stick with anti-anxiety medications instead of weed because of their reliability.

Anxiety brings about a sense of constant worrying and can make it hard to do daily activities. Relief and coping are two important words for someone who has anxiety. In order to have relief from anxiety medications have to be taken. Coping, on the other hand, involves other ways like exercising, therapy, support group, and having a mantra. Coping with anxiety allows the person with it to come to terms with their disorder. It can also help with their mood in positive ways. Pharmaceuticals are the better option compared to weed. They are more reliable and quicker at relieving the anxiety. Weed takes longer and needs a bigger amount. It can also be more expensive and there is not enough evidence on how helpful weed is. It is best to stick with medications as a treatment for anxiety because of the relief it provides.

Pharmaceuticals for Anxiety

Forty million people live a life consumed of fear and worry. They live like this because of their anxiety. It can cause a sense of nervousness and make it hard to do daily activities. There are ways to help those gain relief or even just cope with it. Some ways are conventional while others are not. The conventional ways are therapy, medications, specialist, and self-care. An unconventional way is smoking marijuana that provides the high. The high is believed to help reduce the anxiety but that isn’t always true. With the use of pharmaceuticals those who suffer from anxiety could have relief from their mental health, resulting in not needing the use of marijuana.

There is no cure for anxiety, however, there are ways to relieve or cope with the suffering and pain it causes. Relief and coping can start to sound the same but the words have different meanings especially when dealing with anxiety. There are many ways to treat anxiety and two of those ways are pharmaceuticals and weed to an extent. Those who suffer from anxiety could better benefit from taking pharmaceuticals over smoking weed that provides the high.

Relief helps to ease the pain of illnesses or wounds for an extended period of time. In this case, pharmaceuticals and weed can both give relief to those with anxiety. The relief doesn’t last for continuous days but it is enough to make it through a day and allow for daily activities to be done. Pharmaceuticals provide a longer lasting relief compared to weed. In order, for weed to provide relief it would have to be smoked at a high dosage but it would eventually wear off and need to be smoked more throughout the day. It would also take some time to set in and begin its full effect. Pharmaceuticals typically need to be taken once daily every day and bring relief almost immediately, unlike weed. According to Harvard Health, “They are uniquely effective when taken by mouth or intravenously for the rapid relief of acute anxiety… and control of anxiety.” Pharmaceuticals are the better option for anxiety relief because of their quickness and ability to help control it. The methods used for relief can also be forms of treatment for it.

Coping is different from relief. In order to have relief from anxiety, there are medications that need to be taken. However, coping involves finding ways to deal with illnesses without medications or even the use of weed. Finding those coping methods can also allow the person to change their mood in a positive way. There are many helpful ways to cope with anxiety. In an article at the Healthline website called “6 Daily Hacks That Help Manage High-Functioning Anxiety,” the author provides ways to cope with anxiety and those ways include “recognizing your symptoms, make friends with your fear, reconnect with your body, have a mantra, intervene with yourself, and have a support group.” Although not discussed in the article, physical activity is another coping method. In a journal entry written by Sean Cai, he discusses “relaxation exercises” as a way to “balance the physical as well as mental benefits.” Exercising allows the person with anxiety to feel at ease and improve their mood. All of the previously listed ways can allow someone with anxiety to cope with it in a proper and healthy way. Coping may not be as helpful with anxiety but it is another option if the person with the illness doesn’t want to take medicine.

Over the years, pharmaceuticals have become held at a high standard for effectiveness when relieving anxiety and they continue to prove their effectiveness. Pharmaceuticals and weed meet the same criteria in certain aspects, however, one is more reliable and credible over the other. The medications are more guaranteed to relieve anxiety compared to weed because the pills react with chemicals in the brain that have an effect on mood. Smoking weed for anxiety relief can cause more problems. According to the article “5 Reasons Not to Treat Depression with Weed,” it says, “Many people report feeling more anxious and paranoid immediately after using weed, and some even experience panic attacks.” The report above clarifies that weed has a negative reaction for most users with anxiety. Seeking weed as a treatment can lead to a dependency as well. It is also not known how much needs to be smoked for its effects to kick in. Pharmaceuticals are more easily accessible compared to weed. Weed is not yet legalized and in order to obtain it, it needs to be bought from someone. Some states do allow it to be used for medical reason but there are qualifications that need to be meant. Marijuana also has a tendency to be more expensive than pharmaceuticals. It is best to stick with anti-anxiety medications instead of weed because of their reliability.

There are different forms of anxiety but the most common is generalized anxiety. This can be caused by stress or a traumatic event and it sometimes can be genetic. The anxiety caused by mental illness can interfere with relationships, job performance, academic achievement, and the simplest of daily activities. While some resort to smoking weed, pharmaceuticals are more effective at reducing anxiety.

Marijuana is used by a number of people. It can be smoked, an edible, or can even be a supplement. Prescriptions for weed can be filled out for medical reasons but for the most part, it is smoked recreationally. Some people with anxiety smoke weed to get high because the high is what does the reducing and relieving. However, smoking marijuana does not fully help reduce anxiety. Smoking it, in fact, can cause more anxiety or even heighten it. This can happen if it is smoked in low or high dosages. In the article, “Marijuana and Anxiety | Does Marijuana Help Anxiety or Cause it?”, it says “… marijuana can bring symptoms of anxiety or can heighten their existing anxiety.” For some, it can even bring about mental disorder. There are short and long-term effects that occur when using weed. The short-terms consist of but are not limited to heightened anxiety, short-term memory, increased heart rate, and a short attention span. The long-term effects are a little more alarming. These effects consist of breathing issues, depression, and changes in brain functions. Marijuana is not the drug to resort to when trying to reduce anxiety.

Anxiety causes a feeling of constant worrying or fear. These feelings can then make it hard for the person with the disorder to complete daily activities. It can also bring hardship to their families. In the article “Causes and Effects of anxiety,” it states, “He or she fears the worst outcome in every situation, even if it is illogical… person may even admit or know logically that such fears are irrational, he or she will be unable to stop the persistent worry.” Those who have anxiety experience that constant fear every day. They are not able to disregard their feelings even if they know they are being illogical. Anxiety can lead to sleeping issues, trouble interacting with others, no motivation, and disruption in other daily activities like work and school. Having trouble making it through the days without a sense of fear or worrying is rare for someone with anxiety.

Pharmaceuticals are the most effective way of reducing anxiety. Those who have anxiety have many medication options to chose from. The most common medication choice is Benzodiazepines. This medication is used a lot because it is faster acting than the other anti-anxiety medication. Benzodiazepines alone have many different types of medication that can help with anxiety. Some of those include Xanax, Valium, and Ativan. All of these drugs are effective for treating anxiety. The cause of using Benzos is to reduce anxiety and to be able to daily activities with more ease. Using these medicines can significantly help relieve anxiety. In the article “Benzodiazepines(BZs),” the author states: “Studies suggest that they are effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety in approximately 70-80% of patients.” These medications have helped more people compared to marijuana. Medications reduce anxiety, bring a sense of relaxation, and can make it easier to get through the day. Those who use pharmaceuticals experience instant relief from anxiety. Taking medication can allow someone with anxiety to not have to go around with that constant fear and worry.

When it comes to deciding how to reduce anxiety the best way to do it is by taking pharmaceuticals. The medications are fast acting and bring relief instantly versus weed which could take awhile. Anti-anxiety medicines also do not tend to heighten anxiety like marijuana does. Having anti-anxiety pharmaceuticals guarantees a life filled with more ease.

The claim advocates for weed make is that it is not possible to abuse, become addicted, or dependent on the drug, yet that is not true. Since advocates believe in their claim they tend to lean towards smoking weed to help with anxiety over pharmaceuticals. Marijuana users can experience dependency, abuse, and addiction.

Marijuana consist of over 400 chemicals and all these chemicals enter the body when the smoke is inhaled. One of the main chemicals is THC. When THC enters the body it travels to the brain and its effects begin almost immediately. The body becomes very relaxed and a sense of happiness washes over. That might sound appealing but weed can start to hinder brain functions. In an article published by “National Institute on Drug Abuse,” the institute states, “but when THC activates the receptors, itinterferes with the normal functioning of these areas of the brain.” Interference with brain functions can cause more issues. A person can be a chronic smoker or an occasional one but both can still experience the same effects of weed once it enters the body. Even though the feelings marijuana leaves can sound appealing they are causing more harm and are not worth the couple hours of relaxation and ease.

Contrary to popular belief marijuana users can become dependent on the drug. This drug is easily abused because most users do not think it is causing any harm to them physically or mentally so they continue to smoke it regularly. Constantly smoking it can lead to a mental dependency. The user begins to love how they feel when the drug is in their system and they want to always feel that way. Also, they begin to not feel “normal” when weed is not in their system. Users are beginning to have a dependency on the drug more often. In the article, “Marijuana Addiction and Abuse,” the author informs, “More than 4 million Americans are reported to have a dependence on marijuana.” The above statistic is already extremely high and can keep on increasing if people keep ignoring the fact that dependency on weed is possible.

Abusing the drug can happen as well. Most of the time the user does not realize they are abusing the drug. It is easy for abuse to happen because once the user has found easy access to the drug they can get it whenever they want. Most marijuana users start out at a young age and the abuse is already starting to begin. Starting out at a young age can harm the teen’s brain development. In the newsletter “Marijuana Abuse and Addiction,” the author MaryAnn DePietro exclaims, “chronic marijuana use during these early years of critical brain development can lead to long-term or permanent loss of mental abilities.” Abusing the drug at a young age can leave behind permanent damage. There are many negative health effects that can occur when someone starts to abuse the drug. Some of those effects include mood changes, memory issues, coordination loss, anxiety, lung damage, and paranoia. All of the above symptoms can start to cause hardship on the user and their family. Abuse eventually leads to an addiction.

Addiction involves using the substance to the extreme. Those with an addiction do not lose focus on the substance they are craving. As they continue to use the substance they build up a tolerance and begin to need bigger dosages of the drug. Addiction causes changes in brain functionality. In an article called “What is Addiction” published by “American Psychiatric Association,” it explains the changes in the brain, “areas of the brain that relate to judgment, decision making, learning, memory and behavior control.” All of the areas in the brain that change, when a substance is being addicted, are crucial. These same areas change when weed is smoked and THC is released into the brain. Addiction to weed is possible and should not be ignored.

A number of people argue that it is completely impossible to get addicted to weed but they are wrong. Marijuana abuse is more about consumption and addiction focuses on how hard it is for the user to stop smoking it all together or for a period of time. When the user becomes addicted they either constantly crave the drug itself or crave the drug’s effects. It is possible for to crave both. If the user tries to stop using the drug but they are experiencing withdrawal then they are addicted. Marijuana addiction is more common than originally believed. In the newsletter “Marijuana Abuse and Addiction” by DePietro provides proof of addiction, “according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, about one in every 11 marijuana users will become addicted.” In a group of users, there will be at least one who is addicted to the drug. Just like abuse, addiction can cause mental illnesses like anxiety and depression to be present. Some users wind up in rehab for their addiction. In an article called “Marijuana Addiction is Real but Many Users Don’t Realize That” by Christine Vestal, the author interviewed a marijuana user who became addicted, “took him to Muir Wood… six weeks there, Pohl took intensive classes with about 10 other boys and talked to his therapist frequently.” The marijuana user Quintin Pohl became addicted to weed and had to go to a rehab center where he talked with a therapist about his addiction and what he was going through. Lastly, addiction to this drug can sometimes wind up in the emergency room. The article, “Marijuana History and Statistics” by Lauren Brande provides a shocking statistic, “in 2010, it was involved in 461,028 emergency department visits, up 64% since 2004.” Marijuana emergency visits have risen a huge amount since 2004 and have the potential to keep rising if users keep ignoring the fact that addiction can happen. It is important for those who smoke marijuana to realize that it does come with consequences of dependency, abuse, and addiction along with other health issues.

Anxiety is just one of the many mental health disorders that can make life harder for the person living with it. However, there are ways to help relieve some of it and become more relaxed. Pharmaceuticals are the most effective way to help with anxiety. They work at a quicker rate than weed, they don’t heighten or cause anxiety, and they make the user feel relaxed for a longer period of time. Although to some it might seem like weed is the better option for those with anxiety it is not. Marijuana is not reliable and it reacts differently for every individual who smokes it. Some users get anxious and become paranoid. It has also not been determined how much needs to be smoked and how often to make the user feel relaxed for a full 24 hours. Marijuana can also become a dependency for some users, which can lead to the user smoking the weed when it is not needed. The user can abuse or become addicted to weed which would cause more problems on top of the anxiety they are already dealing with it. The best option is to stick with anti-anxiety medications for quick and long-lasting anxiety reduction and relief.

0:00-0:01- The ad starts with a children’s cartoon on tv of a train and its conductor traveling out of a tunnel on the tracks. The train seems to be carrying wood. As the train travels down the track it is blowing smoke. The cartoon is intended for children.

0:02- The camera pans out to show the rec room and dining room. The tv is still playing the cartoon. In the rec room, there are toys that lay on the floor underneath the table as well as on top of the table. The toys being all over the place suggest that the child lives at the house full time. Pillows are on the ground and a blanket is draped over a chair. The room gives off an appearance of a cozy and comfortable home. There is a child laying on a carpet on his stomach in the middle of the floor in pajamas. The child looks to be asleep or in a daze. An older man in a casual blue long sleeve button-up shirt, jeans, and work boots appear in the scene. The outfit suggests that he could be a working man. The man is presumingly the child’s father and is holding onto the child’s sides. There is a possibility that the father and son are enjoying a Sunday morning. There is no sign of a mother which could suggest that the father and she are divorced or there is no mother at all.

0:03-0:05- The father is still kneeling down at the son’s side. The father begins to tickle his son. The son flips over to his back in a fit of laughter. The father begins to laugh with his son. This shows they have a close father-son relationship.

0:05-0:07- The father stops tickling his son and begins to walk away into another room.

0:07-0:09- The father is out of the scene and the son remains to lie on the floor. The camera is zoomed in on the son with the background blurred. He is laying on his back and looking up at possibly the ceiling. His hands are resting on his chest. He is

0:09-0:10- The scene is still zoomed in on the son. He remains to lie on his back with his hands resting on his chest. He turns his head to watch his dad walk into the other room. He is still grinning from his dad tickling him.

0:10-0:12- The scene has now moved to the kitchen. The background of the kitchen is blurred out. The father is walking into the kitchen and his back is facing the child. The main focus is the countertop. On the countertop, there is a glass of water and two bowls stacked together. The bowls could be from breakfast that the father and son had together.

0:12-0:13- The background of the kitchen is in focus. A doorway in the kitchen leading to another room can now be seen. There is a coffee pot, the sink, and dish soap. There are coffee mugs that surround the coffee pot. The father walks over to the sink and is rolling up the sleeves of his shirt.

0:13-0:15- The father is still walking to the sink. He continues to roll up his sleeves. One of his hands is reaching for something, possibly a coffee mug. The father starts to turn around to look at his son who could be talking to him or asking him a question. The father seems interested in what his son is saying.

0:15-0:17- The scene pans back to the son. The son is now standing in the middle of the floor with a door behind him. He looks as if he has something to say to his dad. He begins to talk to his father. He says something quickly. The look on his face as he is talking suggests that he is curious about what his dad will say back.

0:17-0:21- The sentence “8 kids a day are accidentally killed or injured by FAMILY FIRE” pans across the screen with a black background.

0:21-0:25- The sentence “FAMILY FIRE is a shooting involving an improperly stored gun” pans across the screen with a black background.

0:25-0:30- The screen has a black background providing a website about making homes safer.

This 30-second advertisement does a bad job of sending their message to the viewers. The ad is supposed to show viewers that kids die from family guns not being stored correctly. They want viewers to know the importance of locking up house guns properly and safely. This message can only be understood in the 2-minute version. In this version, the viewer can see a father and son having a conversation about guns and how it would be easy for the child to reach the gun if he stumbled upon it. After the first minute and forty seconds, it is clear that the child has died from messing with the gun and the dad is reminiscing on the conversation they had. In the end, these last two phrases “8 kids a day are accidentally killed or injured by FAMILY FIRE” and “FAMILY FIRE is a shooting involving an improperly stored gun” pan across the screen in a more effective and lasting way.

Using pharmaceuticals to help reduce anxiety instead of weed can have the same disadvantages as using weed. The downsides can make it more confusing on whether to take the medications or not. The medicine is helping reduce the anxiety, however, the user is getting addicted to it at the same time. The side effects that come along with taking the medication can outweigh the helpfulness. Pharmaceuticals could cause health issues and lead to overdosing on the drug. Taking anxiety medication could create more problems rather than help any.

Anxiety reducing medications can be extremely helpful but can have a variety of downfalls as well. One of the downfalls is the risk of addiction. The medications are reducing anxiety but at the same time, the user is becoming more and more addicted to it. Anxiety medicine can easily become an addiction because of high the potency is. As the person suffering from anxiety takes the medicine it begins to build up in the body. This then causes the user’s body to become dependent on the medication in a physical and mental way. Most people do not realize that they are getting addicted and cannot always see the signs. In the article, “Understanding Benzodiazepines,” the author states: “…high abusive and addictive potential they hold… developing a tolerance to the drugs’ sedative effects or dismissing important people and activities to focus solely on getting and abusing the drugs.” The article discusses how most users do not realize they are building up a tolerance to the drug and just overriding the fact that it is supposed to help reduce their anxiety. Building up their tolerance can lead to needing a bigger dosage just to help reduce anxiety. Having an addiction to pharmaceuticals could lead to the users missing out on events and activities all because they constantly crave the drug. If the user begins to become addicted and tries to stop taking the drug they can begin to go through a withdrawal which could become harmful. Anxiety medications can cause more harm than good to the user and their families.

Sometimes the many side effects of medication can outweigh the purpose of the drug. Anxiety medication has a collection of side effects that could make it seem like there is no point in taking it. Some of those side effects are drowsiness, headaches, insomnia, tremors, and can lower blood pressure. A more worrisome side effect is the possibility of depression being worsened while on anti-anxiety medications. In the article “Anxiety Medication,” the author states: “…can worsen cases of pre‐existing depression… may potentially lead to treatment-resistant depression… can cause emotional blunting or numbness and increase suicidal thoughts and feelings.” The article talks about the possibility of the medications worsening depression if the user suffers from it. Depression being heightened can lead to the user having suicidal thoughts. Although the medications are reducing anxiety they are heightening depression in some users. Depression being worsened can lead to more suffering on top of the suffering that is happening from anxiety. The suffering of anxiety can be heightened as well because it is one of the symptoms of depression. The side effects for the medications can make it hard to want to take the drugs in the first place.

Anxiety medications can bring about health issues and cause more problems. Users can begin to have lower blood pressure, upset stomach, respiration issues, confusion, and memory loss. These health issues can make it harder to do daily activities. They can also worsen anxiety in a way because the user could start to become worried about their health issues which then leads to more anxiety. Health issues just like the side effects can make taking the medication undesirable.

Another downside to medications is the possibility of abuse which would result in overdosing. Abusing the drug can lead to an alcohol like buzz or a high which some people find enjoyable or relaxing. Constantly wanting to feel like this could result in an overdose of the drug. In the article, “More Overdose Deaths From Anxiety,” author Rabin states: “Meanwhile, the rate of overdose deaths involving anti-anxiety drugs reached 3.07 per 100,000 adults in 2013.” The article discusses how anxiety medication users are starting to overdose on the drug more often. Becoming dependent on the medications are also abusing it because the user is building up their tolerance which would lead to needing bigger dosages. Most of the time the user does not even need the drug anymore but have begun to enjoy the “buzz” it leaves. Mixing anxiety medicines with alcohol or other medications can lead to overdoses as well. Abuse and overdosing are just some of the factors to consider while taking anxiety medications.

Anxiety medications do help reduce anxiety and have advantages. They also have their fair share of disadvantages. Those being addiction, negative side effects, health issues, and the possibility of abuse and overdosing. All of these disadvantages can cloud the advantages and make it hard to decide whether or not to take anxiety medications.